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I’ve received a few emails this week of people asking me something along the lines of the following: Dude, we get it. You like Texas. It can’t be that great.
While I’ve been civil in my responses to these emails, the disconnect between what Texans and those who have visited Texas know about the state versus those who haven’t has suddenly interested me. Is it possible that Texans have been under-hyping our great state this entire time? I mean, obviously.
I was sitting at my desk typing away furiously this morning with some Cody Johnson music on quietly in the background as a part of my “I Miss Texas” playlist that I definitely created on my iPhone.
One of my coworkers overheard some of the music and came up to me and asked “Who is Cody Johnson? Never heard of him before but this music is great.”
After I resisted the urge to yell in wild disbelief because today is #Friday, I immediately flashed back to the summer of 2010. I was down on Lake Travis for a concert and had just fired a text off to Roger Creager (more on that, later) who had a show later that night. As I was waiting outside his bus for him to come unlock it, up comes this country boy wearing Wranglers, a pearl snap, black ostrich boots and a Stetson. AKA my spirit animal. He saw me standing there and asked if there was anything I needed help with and we got to shooting the shit for a minute or two and I asked him if he knew anything about this Cody Johnson fella who was opening up for Roger that night.
He looked at me, somewhat disappointed, and said “hey man, I’m Cody Johnson.”
I felt like total crap. This, at the time, no-name artist hadn’t made his way down to Austin yet. I immediately offered to buy any merchandise he had to include his only CD that he had released to this point. He refused my offer and gave me his CD, a shirt and a kooz for free. He then thanked me for reminding him to stay humble and he sincerely meant it.
It was around this time that Roger had come off the bus and invited us both up for a few beers. Cody asked me how I knew Roger which led to another story.
I went to a military academy for undergrad so my “college experience” was essentially non-existent. After only playing shows down in the South and maybe as far North as Colorado for most of his life, Roger Creager had finally decided to venture up the East Coast to play a few dive bar venues. Only problem for me? The one time he was going to be playing near me was a Sunday night and my school had a strict curfew that went into effect an hour before Roger’s show was supposed to kick-off. I was seriously disappointed as I was going to miss a chance for my favorite Texas artist to finally come out my way. I made a half-assed attempt and shot an email to an address I found on Roger’s website asking if they were ever coming back out this way and gave him some details on why I couldn’t make it. The response surprised me.
“Hey Kiawah, we don’t have anything else on the schedule as of yet. My number is _____. Give me a call if there is anything I can do to help. RC”
Roger Creager had just given some fan he didn’t even know his cell phone number. I immediately called and Roger, his former Green Beret dad and I hashed out a plan. We were going to send up an exception-to-policy with Roger shooting me a few emails personally addressed to my CoC for me to skip out on curfew that night. A few days later I received a call from a very senior officer who asked me to swing by his office. “I’m about to get my dick fucking crushed. This was a stupid idea,” I thought to myself.
As I walked into the office ready for the worst, said officer greeted me. “Hey Kiawah. No clue how this request even got to me, but everyone who has to approve it has said yes. Now that I think about it, though, it makes sense….literally every one of them is a Texan. Also, not sure if you know this, but me and my wife are also from Houston. We absolutely love Roger and you can go see him but only if you get my wife a signed T-Shirt from him.” He then handed me $20 cash for the shirt. I agreed and walked out of his office with a shit-eating grin on my face.
I immediately let Roger know that I had somehow gotten the green light and he invited me out to dinner and drinks before the show, which let me tell you, was a great fucking time.
After this success, I started asking some of my favorite artists if they were ever planning on coming out my way, as well. A few of them did. I have somewhat similar stories about Kyle Park (who gave me a free pair of boots), Granger Smith and Eli Young back in his Small Town Kid days.
I don’t tell these stories as a humble brag. I tell these stories because that’s what Texas means to me. From Cody Johnson, Roger Creager and an officer who seriously outranked me all being bonded together by Texas and Texas country music. There is nothing Texans won’t do to help each other. Why is that? Probably lots of reasons. We were the only state that had to become a country, first. We have an intense pride that I’ve touched upon previously.
Texas Country music is the one thing that definitely will bring us all together. Texans legitimately care about each other. I’ve had tons of requests for care packages of Whataburger, HEB Green Sauce, Shiner and everything else in between. We give a shit about each other down in Texas. Roger even messaged me while I was in Afghanistan telling me to stay safe and I get a shout-out every time I go down to Gruene Hall for his annual concert week during his birthday.
Again, I don’t tell these stories to brag, I tell these stories to answer the question of “What makes Texas so great?” The funny thing, though? Almost every Texan has these kinds of stories..
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Kiawah Island Strip Club
I'd rather be golfing. Seattle sucks so I write about that. Also work...ish in recruiting. Shoot your resume to kiawahislandstripclub@gmail.com for any and all job hunt questions.
Now that you live in Seattle maybe you could try bonding with some hipsters by forming a drum circle and beating off into a cup of coffee. #FuckSeattle
Hey, you leave jerking off into cups of coffee out of this, alright!? I did that once because I couldn’t find a sock and there were no tissues around and then some girl drank it and spawned Father John Misty so it’s not all bad
Piggybacking the top comment here but want to let everyone know AMC is showing a series called The Son. It’s about a family in South Texas from 1850 – Present and is based off a phenomenal book by the same title. Can’t recommend enough.
Kyle Park was in my bowling class (cool story dave) Can confirm he’s a good dude.
You’re from Leander?
College at T State. He and Alexis Texas were both in there. Nice.
I’m just gonna assume you closed the deal with Alexis
I love your stories, Dave
Texas forever, Street.
Texas is the greatest country this world has known
As a non-native, very well said. When we go visit my family, my wife, who is 6th generation Texan, finds it strange people don’t have a (insert name of state I grew up in) flag flying in their yard.
I recall my first time ever in The Republic of Texas. Took a trip with my college roommates. I knew I’d love it, I just didn’t know how much. Now, I’m the proud owner of several Texas state flag decorated items, including my phone case.
PS Cody Johnson is the man.
PPS Seing Aaron Watson this week.
Just began listening to Watson and Johnson in the last month. Any suggestions of what particular CD’s are most worth listening through from them?
Aaron: Vaquero is great, as is Shut Up and Dance, Angels & Outlaws and The Road.
I would say his best early songs are Lonely Lubbock Lights, 3rd Gear & 17, The Road and The Honky Tonk Kid.
Cody Johnson: Cowboy Like Me, A Different Day and Six Strings One Dream are all good. Texas Kind of Way is probably my favorite song of his, as is What’s Left of Texas. Guilty as can be is a good song for Monday mornings. Diamond in My Pocket is his best 2-step song and Ride With Me is a close 2nd. Get Back Home to You is the ultimate I’m stuck in an airport song and it’s amazing. Pray for Rain is the song that put him on the map and is a classic.
His newer songs: Dance Her Home, Cowboy Like Me and Give a Cowboy a Kiss.
Also check out: Roger Creager’s songs Everclear, Love, Fun All Wrong, I’ve Got The Guns, Rancho Grande, L.A. Freeway
Jason Boland: Peal Snaps, Somewhere Down in Texas
Randy Rogers: Rollercoaster is probably the best TX Country Album ever made.
Gotta throw a Ryan Bingham recommendation in here. Also not technically a Texas guy, but Stoney Larue is worth a listen too.
Oklahoma Breakdown is my jam. Agreed. Good call.
I’ve been on a William Clark Green kick after seeing him open for Randy. Ryan Baird is pretty good too.
WCG has quickly ascended to the top tier of my favorite Texas/Red Dirt artists this past year or two. He absolutely brings the heat at his live shows.
Thanks all, did listen through vaquero a few times and really enjoyed it. Definitely gonna check all this out.
CoJo’s “A Different Day” album is some of his older stuff but it’s a solid one. Might check out Jason Boland and the Stragglers or Casey Donahew Band too. Those are some Texas Country Staples.
Was going to add Casey, as well. Also, Turnpike Troubadour. Unfortunately not from Texas, even more unfortunately from Oklahoma. But they’ve got the Red Dirt thing down.
Turnpike puts on an awesome show. Living in SWMO we don’t get much red dirt action, but them and a few others venture up to NE OK once in a while. Seen them 5-6x now. Good times always
All these Texas artist and no mention of Robert Earl Keen or Hayes Carll? Plan on going to go see REK and RRB out at Floore’s this upcoming Saturday.
Literally listening to Corpus Chriti Bay as we speak. Gives me all the feels.
Feeling good again is my jam.
Drunken poets dream got me out of an extreme post-weekend funk on my drive to work this morning.
Super jealous. Wanted to go so bad… saw REK in corpus a few months back. Always see him when I have a chance.
You couldn’t have said it any better. Damn I miss Texas so much right now, and yes I have my Red Dirt playlist playing on my Spotify. Highlight of my year so far getting to meet Randy Rogers after his show in NYC and just being around a bunch of fellow Texans.
As for care packages whenever my fellow DC Texas friends make a trip back we always shoot each other a text asking if there is anything they want us to bring back. Now excuse me while I go book a trip back to the Hill Country.
Been listening to that playlist a lot lately and did tonight while grilling out and drinking beer. Not from Texas but damn, if that’s what it’s like then sign me up asap
Going to the Salute to Texas Independence Day always gives me the feels. It’s nice to see everyone lose their stuffy all black clothes and back in their boots and plaid.
Oh man. That was a shitshow. In a good way. It’s like someone said “let’s take LJT and put it inside a building.”
Highlight of my year each time I went.
When you move out of Texas, nothing kicks you in the chest like Texans reminiscing about home.
Made ribs last night and had to explain why I bought Beef ribs instead of Pork ribs.
Sad times.
I helped Roger Creager break the world record for largest group of people floating the river together for his 40th birthday. It was an absolute blast. He’s a great dude.